Lonely Widower Looks Online For A New Fishing Partner After His Dies
February 09, 2017
Ray Johnstone never meant to become an Internet sensation. He was just a lonely widower looking for a new fishing partner after his passed away. But then his online ad went viral, and he got way more than he ever expected!
Seeking A Friend To Go Fishing
As a retired widower living in Australia, Ray had a lot of time on his hands. So, he filled it with fishing. But then his fishing partner passed away, and Ray again found himself with too much time alone.
So, he turned to the Internet for help.
RELATED: Internet Goes Into An Uproar After 93-Year-Old Veteran's Beloved Dog Was Stolen From His Backyard
You have to admire the man's gumption. Though not well-versed in the world wide web, Ray crafted a classified ad seeking a new partner.
"My name is Ray Johnstone, Australian," Ray wrote in his ad. "I'm a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate. My previous fishing mate is now deceased. . . What I want is a fishing mate in a similar position to myself who also wants someone to go fishing with. I am willing to share all costs."
Ray successfully posted his ad on Australia's popular online classifieds site, Gumtree.
The ad itself was simple. It listed the type of fishing Ray enjoyed, pictures of the spots he frequented, and, of course, his contact information. But it was the tender vulnerability of a lonely man seeking a friend that really struck a chord. And no one could have guessed what would happen next!
Going Viral
The adorable yet heart-wrenching ad posted by the lonely widower looking for a new fishing partner captured the hearts of all who read it. And before long, Ray's post had gone viral!
Everyone, it seemed, wanted to be Ray's new fishing partner. The offers poured in like crazy. But it was a humble and sweet young man who won out.
22-year-old Mati Batsinilas saw a news article on Facebook about Ray's plea. Mati's family owns a local fishing business, and he was more than happy to fish with the elderly man.
“I commented on Facebook news article just saying ‘Hey mate, you’ve probably found your fishing buddy and you probably don’t need me. But if you see this message I’m more than happy to take you on a trip to Queensland’,” Mati says.
To his surprise, his sweet comment had gone viral itself!
RELATED: Little Girl Befriends A Lonely Widower At The Grocery Store
“I went to sleep that night thinking nothing of it," Mati recalled. "Then I woke up the next morning and my comment had 1,000 likes and I had 200 messages from people saying ‘Take him on a fishing trip’. . .so I did.”
A Fishing Trip To Remember
A local newspaper put Mati and Ray in contact. Mati, who lives in Brisbane, roughly 900 miles away from Ray, generously paid for Ray and his grandson to fly up and stay.
"I haven’t looked at the fees to be honest. I just paid for everything. It doesn’t bother me," Mati replied when asked how much the trip cost.
Mati and his younger brother then took Ray and his grandson out on the family boat, where they spent hours fishing.
Afterward, they met up with the rest of Mati's family for a late breakfast. The joy in Ray's eyes made it a wonderful experience for everyone.
“The idea of this trip, it wasn’t just about fishing. It was about getting him up here to bring a smile on his face,” Mati explained.
Seeing a young man show so much kindness to a lonely widower is truly amazing. Mati certainly knows how to respect his elders, even if they are complete strangers!
“I did it out of good will," he said. "Honestly, it touched me. I come from a family of four boys and we love fishing. We do it all the time. If something was to happen to us and our old man was left on his own, that’s just awful. There’s no way I would want that to happen to my old mate or my grandfather.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lonely 73-Year-Old Grandma Posts Wanted Ad Seeking A Boyfriend For Christmas
It's awesome to see how God can take something as simple as an online ad and use it to touch these lives in such a profound way. Please be sure to share this heartwarming story with anyone you know who needs a smile!
"Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
h/t: Huffington Post
Featured Image Credit: Gumtree
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Dealing with Family Rejection This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 5
One of the best times of the year can also be one of the most difficult. Harvest décor leads into Christmas bells and lights. We fill the calendar slots with parties and events. This can create a low-level hum of anxiety if the upcoming family get-togethers feel like a risky walk through a minefield.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Dealing with Family Rejection This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 5
One of the best times of the year can also be one of the most difficult. Harvest décor leads into Christmas bells and lights. We fill the calendar slots with parties and events. This can create a low-level hum of anxiety if the upcoming family get-togethers feel like a risky walk through a minefield.
Past Stories
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - Mary, Did You Know? [Live]
Passion Music 'The Lord Will Provide' Passion And Landon Wolfe Live Performance
CCM Magazine Randall Goodgame’s ‘Scripture Hymnal’ | ‘In The Beginning’
CCM Magazine 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.